Apparatus for spreading tubular fabric

ABSTRACT

Driven fabric advancing belts are positioned adjacent opposite sides of a fabric spreader frame and the belts are provided with outwardly projecting pins with the outer free ends being engageable with the fabric on opposite sides of the spreader frame to aid in moving the fabric along and over the spreader frame. Guide pulleys for the belts are positioned adjacent opposite sides of the spreader frame for maintaining the pins in engagement with the fabric throughout a major portion of the length of the spreader frame. Fabric stretching bulges are provided on each side of the spreader frame and adjacent the exit end. Each of the bulges includes outwardly diverging and inwardly converging portions with curved outer extremities. The guide pulleys direct the belts along the length of the outwardly diverging portions of the bulges so that the tubular fabric is disengaged from the pins without damaging the fabric as the fabric reaches the exit end of the spreader frame.

United States Patent [191 Coates APPARATUS FOR SPREADING TUBULAR FABRIC 22 Filed: Mar. 21, 1975 21] Appl. No.: 560,629

[52] US. Cl. 26/55 R; 26/55 R [51] Int. Cl. D06C 5/00 [58] Field of Search 26/55 R, 56

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,175,272 3/1965 Cohn et a1. 26/55 R 3,334,391 8/1967 Kusters et a1. 26/55 R 3,436,796 4/1969 Coates 26/55 R 3,551,969 1/1971 Cohn et a1. 26/55 C 3,590,450 7/1971 Pernick 26/55 C 3,604,079 9/1971 Coates 26/55 R 3,616,502 11/1971 Aronoff." 26/55 R 3,685,108 8/1972 Cecere.... 26/55 R 3,703,882 11/1972 I'laft 26/55 C X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 15,957 1908 United Kingdom 26/55 R 251,548 5/1926 United Kingdom 26/55 R Nov. 4, 1975 Primary Examiner-Robert R. Mackey Attorney, Agent, or FirmParrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson 1 [5 7] ABSTRACT Driven fabric advancing belts are positioned adjacent opposite sides of a fabric spreader frame and the belts are provided with outwardly projecting pins with the outer free ends being engageable with the fabric on opposite sides of the spreader frame to aid in moving the fabric along and over the spreader frame. Guide pulleys forrthe belts are positioned adjacent opposite sides of the spreader frame for maintaining the pins in engagement with the fabric throughout a major portion of the length of the spreader frame. Fabric stretching bulges are provided on each side of the spreader frame and adjacent the exit end. Each of the bulges includes outwardly diverging and inwardly converging portions with curved outer extremities. The guide pulleys direct the belts along the length of the outwardly diverging portions of the bulges so that the tubular fabric is disengaged from the pins without damaging the fabric as the fabric reaches the exit end of the spreader frame.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,916,492

US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 2 of 3 3,916,492

US Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,916,492

APPARATUS FOR SPREADING TUBULAR FABRIC This invention relates generally to a tubular fabric spreading apparatus of the type wherein a tubular fabric is drawn over a spreader frame disposed within the tubular fabric. More particularly, the present apparatus includes improved means for moving the fabric along opposite sides and over the spreader frame to provide positivecontrol of the condition of the fabric as it is drawn over the spreader frame.

My prior US. Pat. Nos. 3,436,796 and 3,604,079 generally disclose tubular fabric spreading apparatuses of the type which employ spaced apart pinwheels supported on conveyor chains positioned adjacent opposite sides of the spreader frame and adapted to move along in engagement with the fabric as it is drawn over the spreader frame. This type of spreader apparatus operates satisfactorily but the speed of operation is somewhat limited because of the limited speed at which the conveyor chains can be operated with the pinwheels attached thereto. Also, the plurality of pinwheels leaves areas of the fabric therebetween which are not under positive control and which areas are not positively ad vanced along opposite sides of the spreader frame.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for spreading tubular fabric which may be operated at a high rate of speed and which provides positive control over the fabric throughout at least a major portion of the length of its travel over the spreader frame.

In accordance with the present invention, the spreader frame is provided with a fabric stretching bulge on each side thereof and adjacent the exit end. The bulges include outwardly diverging and inwardly converging portions with curved outer extremities connecting the diverging and converging portions. Driven fabric advancing belts are positioned adjacent opposite sides of the spreader frame and include outwardly projecting pins carried thereby. The pins have free outer ends which are engageable with the fabric and positively draw opposite sides of the fabric over the spreader frame. Guide pulleys are positioned in spaced relationship adjacent opposite sides of the spreader frame for guiding the belts and for maintaining the pins in engagement with the fabric throughout a major portion of the length of the spreader frame. The belts are guided outwardly along the length of the outwardly diverging portions of the bulges so that the tubular fabric is disengaged from the pins without damaging the fabric as the fabric moves over the curved outer extremities of the bulges. The manner in which the fabric is moved away from the pins without damage to the fabric permits the use of the present spreader apparatus with delicate and sensitive fabrics without imparting any process marking to the fabric from the spreading operation.

It is preferred that the outer free portions of the pins on the belts be bent forwardly a slight amount and in the direction of movement of the fabric over the spreader frame. The amount of forward bend in the pins may be on the order of 1 or 2 to provide a positive grip on the fabric. The angular relationship between the pins and the fabric, as the fabric passes over the bulges, can be adjusted so that the pins are drawn straight out of the fabric and thereby do not damage the fabric. Timing belts are used to support the pins and the drive teeth on the inner surfaces mate with the teeth on the guide pulleys so that the belts at opposite sides of the spreader frame may be positively driven at the same rate of speed and provide positive control of the fabric as it is drawn over the spreader frame.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which I FIG. 1 is a plan view of a spreader frame apparatus of the present invention and showing the tubular fabric in dash-dot lines as it is drawn'over the spreading frame from right to left;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one side of the spreader frame apparatus, looking inwardlyat the bottom of FIG. 1; h

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the lower left hand portion of FIG. 1, being greatly en larged to illustrate the manner in which the fabric moves away from the pins as it movesover the stretching bulge at one side of the spreader frame; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 in FIG. 4 and illustrating the manner in which the idler guidefpulley engages the timing belt above and below the narrow strip of pins on the outer surface of the belt.

The tubular fabric spreading apparatus of the present invention generally includes a spreader frame, broadly. indicated at A in FIG. 1, adapted to fit within and spread tubular fabric F as itis drawn thereover by driven draw rolls 10 which engage andare positioned above and below the fabric at flte exit end of the spreader frame. The draw rolls 10 are rotatably sup- 1 ported on opposite side frames 12, 13, and are drivingly interconnected by gears 14 on the drive of the rolls 10. i

Driven fabric advancing belts 15, 15. are positioned adjacent opposite sides of the spreader frame A and are suitably driven and guided by means to be presently described. Since opposite sides of theappai'atus are substantially identical, only the side of the apparatus inthe lowerportion of FIG. 1 will be described in detail and like reference characters, with the prime notation added will be applied to the corresponding parts on the opposite side. The spreader frame A is provided with opposite sides 20, 20' which are adapted to engage and substantially flatten the tubular fabric. The opposite sides 20, 20' comprise guide rails which are channelshaped in cross section (FIG. 3), for purposes to be presently described. Opposite ends of a U-shaped guide rod are fixed in the leading ends of the guide rails 20, 20' and aids in initially spreading the fabric to pass over the guide rails 20, 20. Width adjusting meansis provided for adjusting the width between the guide rails 20, 20'. The width adjusting means includes threaded rods 21, 22 (FTG. l) fixed at one end to the guide rail 20 and threadably supported at their other ends in threaded sleeves 23, 24. Threaded rods 21.,22 are I pair of spaced rollers 30, 31 supported for rotation between the guide rails 20, 20 and on split shafts in such a manner that the distance between the guide rails may 3 be adjusted. A support roll 32 is positioned beneath the rollers 30, 31 and has a diameter larger than the space between the spaced rollers 30, 31 so that the spreader frame is supported thereby. The roll 32 is fixed on a drive shaft 33, opposite ends of which are suitably journaled on the side frames 12, 13. The shaft 33 is driven by a belt 34 which is drivingly connected to a main drive shaft 35. The main drive shaft 35 is driven by variable speed means including a motor 36 and a drive belt 37. A drive belt 38 is drivingly connected to the main shaft 35 and to the shaft of the lower draw roll to impart rotation to the draw rolls 10 and draw the fabric F over the spreader frame A.

The spreader frame guide rails 20, 20 include respective fabric stretching bulges 40, 40 positioned adjacent the exit end of the spreader frame. Each bulge includes an outwardly diverging portion, indicated at 41 in FIG. 4, an inwardly converging portion 42, and a curved outer extremity connecting the diverging and converging portions 41, 42. The manner in which these fabric stretching bulges aid in removing the fabric from the pins on the belts will be presently described.

The driven fabric advancing belts 15, include pins 50 (FIG. 4) extending outwardly therefrom and having free outer ends engageable with the fabric on opposite sides of the spreader frame and throughout at least a major portion thereof. As best shown in FIG. 5, the belts 15 are in the form of timing belts which include drive teeth on the inner surfaces and the pins 50 extend inwardly from the belt 15 in a relatively narrow strip along the medial portion of the belt so that the pins are in engagement with the fabric in the space between the channel-shaped rails 20, (FIG. 3).

Toothed guide pulleys 52, 53 (FIGS. 1 and 4) are suitably supported for rotation in spaced relationship above a support plate 54. Opposite end portions of the support plate 54 are supported for widthwise adjustment on threaded shafts 56, 57 opposite ends of which are supported for rotation in the side frames 12, 13. A control chain 60 drivingly connects the shafts 56, 57 and manual rotation of one of the pulleys imparts movement to the chain 60 to simultaneously rotate both of the threaded shafts 56, 57. Thus, the support plates 54, 54 and the belts 15, 15' supported thereby may be moved inwardly and outwardly to adjust the distance therebetween to accommodate the' proper width of spreader frame.

Toothed drive pulleys 62, 62' are supported on the support plates 54, 54 and adjacent the entrance end of the spreader frame A for imparting simultaneous drive to both of the fabric advancing belts 15, 15. As shown in FIG. 3, a stub shaft extends downwardly from the drive pulley 62 and is provided with a bevel drive gear 64 on the lower end thereof. The bevel gear 64 mates with a bevel gear 65 which is fixed on a drive shaft 66 and the gear 65 may move outwardly and inwardly on the shaft 66 as the positions of the support plates 54, 54 are changed. The drive shaft 66 is rotatably supported in the frames 12, 13 and is drivingly connected to the main drive shaft 35 by a belt 70 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

An adjustable idler guide pulley 75 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is rotatably supported on a bracket 76 which is supported for adjustment on the plate 54 by screws 77. The guide pulley 75 has upper and lower flanges which are engageable with the upper and lower portions of the belt 15 above and below the narrow strip of pins 50 carried thereby. The guide pulley 75 may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly to change the angle of movement of the 4 belt 15, relative to the angle of the outwardly diverging portion 41 of the bulge 40 so that the angle at which the pins 50 engage the fabric may be varied. Thus, the belt 15 and the fabric may be separated and the pins 50, 50 removed from the fabric without picking or otherwise damaging the fabric.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the fabric moves around the curved outer portion and away from the belt 15 at a reverse angle from the angle at which the outer bent portions or free ends of the pins 50 engage the fabric as it moves up the diverging portion 41 of the bulge 40. The angle of iclination of the outer portions of the pins 50 is somewhat exaggerated in FIG. 4 since the outer end portions need to be bent forwardly only about 1 to 2 It is preferred that the outer ends of the pins be sharpened to aid in gripping and release of the fabric. While various types of pins can be used on thebelts 15, it is preferred that the pins be of the type used in card clothing wherein the pins are in the form of staples which are inserted through a strip of material and in aligned position with each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fabric F is flattened out as it is drawn over the spreader frame A from right to left by the driven draw rolls 10. The spreader frame A is maintained in the position shown in FIG. 1 by the exit end thereof engaging in the nip of the draw rolls l0 and the support rolls 30, 31, and 32 provide vertical support. As the tubular fabric is drawn over the spreader frame A, opposite side portions move along the guide rails 20, 20' and opposite sides of the fabric are positively controlled and driven by the pins 50, 50 on the fabric advancing belts 15, 15' throughout the major length of the spreader frame. The pins also positively control the fabric as it is drawn over the spreading bulges 40, 40' and as the fabric moves up the outwardly diverging portions 41, 41. As the fabric moves around the curved outer extremities of the bulges 40, 40', the belts l5, 15' continue in a straight line path to the guide pulleys 75, and the fabric is separated from the pins without causing any damage or process marking on the edges of the fabric. Thus, the fabric is under positive control of the pins throughout the major portion of the length of its travel along the spreader frame A.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for spreading and advancing a continuous length of tubular knit fabric comprising a. a spreader frame adapted to fit within the continuous length of fabric and having opposite sides adapted to engage and substantially flatten the tubular fabric, said spreader frame including a fabric stretching bulge on each side thereof and adjacent the exit end of said spreader frame, said bulges comprising outwardly diverging and inwardly converging portions, and curved outer extremities connecting said diverging and converging portions,

b. driven fabric advancing belts positioned externally of and adjacent opposite sides of said spreader frame and including outwardly projecting pins carried thereby, said pins having free outer ends engageable with the fabric for exerting positive control therover along opposite sides of said spreader frame, and

c. guide pulleys positioned in spaced relationship adjacent opposite sides of said spreader frame for guiding said belts and for maintaining said pins of said belts in engagement with the fabric throughout a major portion of the length of said spreader frame and along the lengths of said outwardly diverging portions of said bulges so that the tubular fabric is disengaged from said pins without damaging the fabric as the fabric moves over said curved outer extremities of said bulges. v

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fabric advancing belts comprise timing belts including drive teeth on the inner surfaces thereof, wherein the portions of said pins adjacent said free outer ends are bent forwardly in the direction of movement of the fabric over said spreader frame, and wherein said guide pulleys include at least one drive pulley having teeth mating with the drive teeth on the associated timing belt, and including means adjustably supporting one of said belt guide pulleys to vary the angle of movement of that portion of the belt associated therewith corresponding to the angle of said outwardly diverging portion of the corresponding bulge.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 including means for adjusting the width of said spreader frame, and means for adjusting the distance between said driven fabric advancing belts.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fabric spreader includes guide rails extending along opposite sides thereof and wherein said guide rails are channel-shaped in cross section with the pins of said fabric advancing belts being engageable with the fabric in the space between said channel-shaped rails.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 including means supporting said spreader frame between said fabric advancing belts, said support means comprising a pair of spaced rollers supported for rotation between said channel-shaped rails, and a support roll positioned beneath said pair of rollers and having a diameter larger than the space between said spaced rollers so that said spreader frame is supported thereby.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 including drive means for imparting rotation to said support roll.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 including fabric feed rolls positioned above and below and engageable with the fabric for drawing fabric over said spreader frame, said fabric feed rolls being positioned adjacent the exit end of said spreader frame.

8. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said pins extend from said belts in relatively narrow strips along the medial portions of said belts, and wherein said one of said guide pulleys includes spaced apart upper and lower flanges engageable with the upper and lower portions of the corresponding fabric conveying belt and above and below said narrow strip of pins. 

1. An apparatus for spreading and advancing a continuous length of tubular knit fabric comprising a. a spreader frame adapted to fit within the continuous length of fabric and having opposite sides adapted to engage and substantially flatten the tubular fabric, said spreader frame including a fabric stretching bulge on each side thereof and adjacent the exit end of said spreader frame, said bulges comprising outwardly diverging and inwardly converging portions, and curved outer extremities connecting said diverging and converging portions, b. driven fabric advancing belts positioned externally of and adjacent opposite sides of said spreader frame and including outwardly projecting pins carried thereby, said pins having free outer ends engageable with the fabric for exerting positive control therover along opposite sides of said spreader frame, and c. guide pulleys positioned in spaced relationship adjacent opposite sides of said spreader frame for guiding said belts and for maintaining said pins of said belts in engagement with the fabric throughout a major portion of the length of said spreader frame and along the lengths of said outwardly diverging portions of said bulges so that the tubular fabric is disengaged from said pins without damaging the fabric as the fabric moves over said curved outer extremities of said bulges.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fabric advancing belts comprise timing belts including drive teeth on the inner surfaces thereof, wherein the portions of said pins adjacent said free outer ends are bent forwardly in the direction of movement of the fabric over said spreader frame, and wherein said guide pulleys include at least one drive pulley having teeth mating with the drive teeth on the associated timing belt, and including means adjustably supporting one of said belt guide pulleys to vary the angle of movement of that portion of the belt associated therewith corresponding to the angle of said outwardly diverging portion of the corresponding bulge.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 including means for adjusting the width of said spreader frame, and means for adjusting the distance between said driven fabric advancing belts.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fabric spreader includes guide rails extending along opposite sides thereof and wherein said guide rails are channel-shaped in cross section with the pins of said fabric advancing belts being engageable with the fabric in the space between said channel-shaped rails.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 including means supporting said spreader frame between said fabric advancing belts, said support means comprising a pair of spaced rollers supported for rotation between said channel-shaped rails, and a support roll positioned beneath said pair of rollers and having a diameter larger than the space between said spaced rollers so that said spreader frame is supported thereby.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5 including drive means for imparting rotation to said support roll.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1 including fabric feed rolls positioned above and below and engageable with the fabric for drawing fabric over said spreader frame, said fabric feed rolls being positioned adjacent the exit end of said spreader frame.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said pins extend from said belts in relatively narrow strips along the medial portions of said belts, and wherein said one of said guide pulleys includes spaced apart upper and lower flanges engageable with the upper and lower portions of the corresponding fabric conveying belt and above and below said narrow strip of pins. 